Algeria's ailing leader makes rare public appearance

Associated Press

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika sits in a car on his way to visit the Belkaidia mosque in Tixeraine outside Algiers, Tuesday, May 15, 2018. Bouteflika later visited the building site of the future Algiers Grand Mosque. (AP Photo)

May 15, 2018 - 10:15 AM

ALGIERS, Algeria - Algeria's president has visited the construction site of the future Great Mosque in Algiers, in a rare public appearance of the 81-year-old ailing leader.

Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who has been debilitated by a stroke for years, appeared in television footage in a wheelchair Tuesday.

After praying at a mosque belonging to a religious brotherhood outside the capital, Bouteflika visited the gigantic construction site of the Great Mosque.

The presidential project has been criticized for its cost of more than $1.6 billion, considered excessive for the North African country.

Algeria's FLN governing party is urging Bouteflika to seek a fifth term in next year's presidential election despite his frail health and growing doubts about his ability to lead the oil-and-gas-rich country, the largest in Africa.

OPINION The global food system is amazing. We have created a process that can put enormous diversity of food onto any plate in our province, assuming the plate will be sliding in front of someone who can afford to pay